Kristen is a home­maker, home­schooler, and a home­keeper. Her experience includes nineteen years of practice, raising three kids, a husband, and a dog. Writing about her life helps her stay sane. She believes that sharing stories helps others by providing opportunities to share advice (and helpful hints) about homeschooling, and raising kids on the autism spectrum, while supporting marriages and families that are striving to thrive.

Shannon Enos is a wife, recovering Pinterest addict, and homeschooling mom of two young girls. Her hobbies include analyzing music with her husband, pretending she’s going to finish that crocheting project she started 4 years ago, and making lists of things she has already completed just so she can cross them off. Shannon values truth, education, the arts, open minds, humor, and “Nashville" binges on Hulu. She believes that learning happens everywhere, whether you’re paying attention or not.

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Pink Owl

First of all: Happy Spring!!! Yay sunshine, and flowers, and warmth...

BUT... this flu is continuing to besiege my household with a vengeance. My children have all gotten it, gone to Patient First, have been prescribed Tamiflu, finished Tamiflu, and are well in to their recovery phase. The little one is back to her normal, high energy self. Tommy was the last child (ok, man-child, but still my child) to get it, and seemed to be hit the hardest, but is now completely recovered. I, however, am still sick! Not cool!

The husband has done a fantastic job (for real) stepping up to being the main man to get kids where they need to be, and shuttling us to and from the doctor, and pharmacy. He’s so over the flu, though, and has told me so. We aren’t allowed to be sick anymore. The illness has been evicted (except from my lungs- it won’t leave). The past few nights, though, in a spirit of co-operation, I actually made dinner. The kids need more than just pizza for fuel. Aside from cooking (two whole meals) and cleaning (we have a Labrador-which equals lots of dog hair. Lots. everywhere.), though, not much is happening, here.

This run of the gunk has made me realize something very important: we need to have a disaster preparedness kit ready and stocked. I'm not talking about just a regular, food, water, batteries, and flashlight type of kit, though those are important. I'm talking about how we need a mom is down and can’t function kit. We need lesson plans, activities, and frozen prepared meals that are ready to go- and ready to throw in the crockpot. We need lists of medicine that each kid takes and when posted in the cabinet where the meds are. This family, for sure, has a long list of things that need to be prepared for in case of a disaster… or the flu. I've always been a bit of a girl scout about being prepared for anything, anytime, but, I never stopped to think about how unprepared we really are for when the person who usually runs everything- day-to-day is down and out! Next time (hopefully not for a loooonnnggg time), we will be better prepared.

Now, I know that everyone is organized in their own way, BUT, if you are married, and are thinking about making a mom-is-down disaster kit, please try to think in the organizational way of your spouse. This is huge. My organization is definitely not Mark’s organization. I could explain my rationale, but it just won’t make sense to him. Also, for those of you that homeschool, having a default homeschool plan for the days the kids are actually in charge of their own education because mom-is-down needs to be kid organized and kid sensical. This means details… probably in list format… and not in cursive. Otherwise, your children will be on Minecraft for 48 hours (or longer)… and this may be ok for you. It may, indeed, be your default plan. Minecraft, at least at our house, guarantees there will be no kitchen or bathroom or science disasters, because Minecraft completely consumes the brain. True story.

So, the public service announcement for this week is to make your mom-can’t-mother-today disaster kits. I like lists, so I will share what I’ve come up with:

4.Homeschool activity books with suggested number of pages from each to be done prior to screen time (at least something educational is accomplished)

5.A new puzzle or game to open on said mom-can’t-work day

6.List of weekly scheduled activities posted in the kitchen

7.Ginger ale, chicken soup, and mac-n-cheese always on hand for emergencies.. and pizza, of course!

I think this is the bare minimum for my family. Your list might be more extensive, or more basic. Having three medicated kiddos, two of whom are on the spectrum, made the medicine list top priority. After a week of pizza, it would have been nice to have a ready-to-go meal ready-to-go. As I approach day 15 of not feeling like doing anything, a new puzzle or game is just a plain nice thing to be able to offer to my worn out family. Being prepared definitely has its merits! So, mamas, make your lists and build your kits! Your family will thank you, and you will be able to rest and recover knowing there is a plan in place for emergency down time.

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Pouches' Community Corner

This month Pouches poked her head into an exciting new program for teens interested in law enforcement.

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